Since no one can deliver a line quite like Ferguson, we’ve listed selected quotes on various topics that he made in reply to audience queries and questions from moderator Dave Itzkoff of The New York Times:

On Mitt Romney’s debate comments about cutting PBS funding: “How much are we going to save by getting rid of PBS, forty bucks?”

On his influences growing up: “I used to watch the Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges and Laurel and Hardy, so you could say I was drawn to black and white absurdism.”

On overcoming his alcoholism, [which he described in his book, American on Purpose]: “When I got sober, I experienced life on a whole new level. My career is based on resentment and alcohol, and I’m not the first.”

On his accent: “No one in the casting community in Hollywood really knows the difference between British and Scottish accents.”

On the early days of The Late Late Show: “When I auditioned, I said ‘This should be a lark.’ I thought the show would only last three weeks to one month, and I’m not the only one who thought that.”

On his monologue: “The death of Johnny Carson happened three weeks into my new show, and I didn’t know what to do… I like that my monologues now are frightening.”

On doing impersonations: “As Americans, we can use Prince Charles for fun whenever we want… I realized it didn’t matter how good my impersonations were.” (actually, they’re spot-on, based on our viewing of hilarious footage of Ferguson as Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Bill Clinton)

On late show rivalries: “There’s a lot of old thinking in late night TV. The idea of a late night war is an old idea. Now the late night show hosts appear on each other’s shows.”

Interaction with his talk show guests: “I have a callous disregard for their careers. If they want to promote something, let them mention it. It’s absurd for me to have to see their latest movie.”

Self-appraisal: “I survived by my wits… I resist the temptation to please everyone… I promised myself I’ll only do this [late show] as long as I enjoy it, since I’m not professional enough to fake it… Life is too short to change people’s ideas about me… I’m f****** awesome at being me.”

His publicist: “My publicist is here, and she is looking at me in a very conflicted way.” (Despite Ferguson’s cussing, she was laughing along with the rest of the audience.)